Dental impression tray



Sept. 23 1924.

F. c, RODGERS DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY Original Filed June 16, 1920 Patented Sept. 23, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C-VRQDGERSJ. QF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY.

Original application filed June 16, 1920, Serial No. 389,384. Divided and this application filed April 17,

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK C. RODGERS,

a citizen of the United States, and residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented the new and useful Improvement in Dental Impression Trays, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dental impression trays adapted for the purpose of taking impressions of the mouth to reproduce impressionswof teeth, gums, palate and adjacent structures. This application is a division of application Serial Number 389,384, filed June 16, 1920.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a dental impression tray, which, while it is constructed to conform generally to the parts to be reproduced, has provisions for preventing the impression material from dropping off of the tray into the mouth or throat, at the same time permitting ready removal of the tray from the impression material and providing ample space for teeth that are out of alinement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dental impression tray having means providing for expansion and contraction of the tray in order to adjust the same to the mouth.

Further objects will appear from the detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan of an impression tray for the lower jaw;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is a perspective view;

Figure 4- is a section on the line 44, Figure 1, showing the impression material in place; and

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Figure 1.

Referring to the acccompanying drawing which shows a tray adapted more particularly to the lower jaw, this tray may be made of sheet or cast aluminum and it comprises a lingual flange 20 and a labial flange 21, which together form an arched trough, a handle 22 being also formed on or attached to the tray body. The termini of 50 the trough have ridges 23 which extend along the sides and bottom thereof to form post-dams for retaining the impression material, but which ridges are shallow so as to not interfere with the placing of the tray Serial No.. 554,167.

on the teeth. The lingual flange has at its center a notch 24 which permits the legs of the tray to be expanded or contracted by bending.

This lower tray is designed with a curvature that corresponds to the curvature of the lower jaw, the object being to provide a space at the incisal region for suflicient bulk of the iiri'pression material so that the same can he distributed equally over the teeth and gums so that it can be readily re moved from the curved part of the jaw without breaking into numerous small frag ments; it will, therefore, be seen that the bottom of each tray leg is convex, considered in a direction therealong; accordingly the tray will correspond to the curvature of the teeth of the lower jaw as seen in Figures 2 and 3 in order to bring the impression material close to the back teeth.

The inside or lingual flange 20 is designed to extend rootwise below the necks of the teeth to secure an impression below the gum margins; accordingly this flange inclines distally as well as rootwise.

The outside or labial flange is designed to conform to the contour of the gums, being deepest in front with a gradual recession distally, so that this flange extends distally'and occlusially. The general rounded angles and curvature more particularly at the ends of the flanges and in the bottom of the trough is, however, such as to permit ready removal of the tray from the impression material and allowing ample space for teeth which may be out of alinement.

The function of the notch 24 at the center of the labial or inside flange 20 is to permitthe legs of the tray to be expanded and contracted for the purpose of widening and narrowing the tray so as to conform to the shape of some individual jaws; the provision of this notch, however, not only permits and provides for such adjustment but also prevents distortion of the tray as a whole.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in details of construction without departing from the spirit of this invention; It is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

beyond said labial flange and rootwise below the necks of the teeth, and said labial flange being formed to follow the gums labially.

4. A dental impression tray having lingual and labial flanges bounding a trough, said lingual flange extending beyond said labial flange and inclining distally and root Wise.

' 5. A dental impression tray having lingual and labial flanges bounding a trough,

said lingual flange extending beyond said labial flange and inclining distally and rootwise, and said labial flange inclining distally and occlusially.

6. A dental impression tray having lingual and labial flanges bounding a distally open arched trough provided with postdams, said lingual flange extending beyond said labial flange and inclining distally and rootwise. I

7. A dental impression tray having lingual and labial flanges bounding a distally open arched trough provided with postdams, said lingual flange extending beyond said labial flange and inclining distall and rootwise, and said labial flange inc ining distally and occlusially.

8. A dental impression tray having lingual and labial flanges bounding an arched trough provided with post-dams, the bottom of each tray leg being convex, considered in a direction therealong.

9. A dental impression tray having liligual and labial flanges bounding a trough, said lingual flange extending beyond said labial flange and inclining distally and root- Wise, and the bottom of each tray leg being convex, considered in a direction thercalong.

10. A dental impression tray having lingual and labial flanges bounding a trough, said lingual flange extending beyond said labial flange and inclining distally and rootwise, said labial flange inclining distally and occlusially, and the bottom of each tra leg being convex, considered in a direction t ierealong.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signatur this 12th day of July, 1921.

FRANK C. RODGERS. 

